Sinclair Knight Merz was commissioned to conduct a health risk assessment (HRA) to identify the potential for health risks associated with dioxin emissions from the Sydney Steel Mill (SSM) electric arc furnace baghouse, in Rooty Hill, in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Risk assessment procedures identified within the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) guidelines were used. This comprised:
- identification and quantification of dioxin emissions from the plant. NATA registered and EPA approved stack sampling and analysis methods were used to determine the dioxin emission release parameters from the stack. Sinclair Knight Merz worked closely with the client and the EPA to determine an appropriate characterisation of particle emissions from the baghouse stack
- atmospheric dispersion modelling of dioxin emissions using the US EPA ISC3 Prime model. The Building Profile Input Program (BPIP-Prime) was also used to determine appropriate building downwash parameters for use in the dispersion modelling. The maximum 72-hour and annual average dioxin concentrations and deposition rates were determined within nearby residential areas
- risk assessment procedures using the CAPCOA model. The results of atmospheric dispersion modelling were input to the CAPCOA model to determine the non-cancer health effects and the individual cancer risks for the maximum exposed off-site individual.
The involvement of Sinclair Knight Merz in the SSM HRA brings the benefits of stack sampling, atmospheric dispersion modelling, health risk modelling and experience with the latest health risk assessment procedures to your project.